Eco-Phenomenology

Description

This groundbreaking collection explores the intersection of phenomenology with environmental philosophy. It examines the relevance of Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Levinas for thinking through the philosophical dilemmas raised by environmental issues, and then proposes new phenomenological approaches to the natural world. The contributors demonstrate phenomenology's need to engage in an ecological self-evaluation and to root out anthropomorphic assumptions embedded in its own methodology. Calling for a reexamination of beliefs central to the Western philosophical tradition, this book shifts previously marginalized environmental concerns to the forefront and blazes a trail for a new collaboration between phenomenologists and ecologically-minded theorists.

Acknowledgments

Eco-Phenomenology: An Introduction
Charles S. Brown and Ted Toadvine

I. Ecological Philosophy and the Phenomenological Tradition

1. The Real and the Good: Phenomenology and the Possibility of an Axiological Rationality
Charles S. Brown

2. An Understanding Heart: Reason, Value, and Transcendental Phenomenology
Erazim Kohák

3. The Possibility of a Constitutive Phenomenology of the Environment
Lester Embree

4. Prolegomena to Any Future Phenomenological Ecology
John Llewelyn

5. Heidegger's Phenomenology and Contemporary Environmentalism
Michael E. Zimmerman

6. Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Merleau-Ponty: Some of their Contributions and Limitations for Environmentalism
Monika Langer

7. Back to Earth with Reflection and Ecology
Don E. Marietta, Jr.

II. New Directions in Eco-Phenomenology

8. The Primacy of Desire and Its Ecological Consequences
Ted Toadvine

9. Phenomenology on (the) Rocks
Irene J. Klaver

10. Natural Disasters
Christian Diehm

11. Taking a Glance at the Environment: Preliminary Thoughts on a Promising Topic
Edward S. Casey

12. What is Eco-Phenomenology?
David Wood

Notes on Contributors

Eco-Phenomenology Bibliography

Index

Sujets

• Philosophie
• Épistémologie
• Philosophie de l'esprit
• Epistémologie
• Epistémologie
• Epistémologie

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791487280
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

ECO-PHENOMENOLOGY

SUNY Series in Environmental Philosophy and Ethics J. Baird Callicott and John van Buren, editors

ECO-PHENOM

ENOLOGY

Back to the Earth Itself

Edited by Charles S. Brown and Ted Toadvine

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2003 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207

Production by Christine L. Hamel Marketing by Michael Campochiaro

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Eco-phenomenology : back to the earth itself / edited by Charles S. Brown and Ted Toadvine. p. cm. — (SUNY series in environmental philosophy and ethics) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-5621-8 (hc : alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7914-5622-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Environmentalism—Philosophy. 2. Ecology—Philosophy. 3. Phenomen- ology. I. Brown, Charles S., 1950– II. Toadvine, Ted, 1968– III. Series.

GE195.E23 2003 363.7'001—dc21

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2002075850

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Contents

Acknowledgments Eco-Phenomenology: An Introduction Charles S. Brown and Ted Toadvine

Ecological Philosophy and the Phenomenological Tradition The Real and the Good: Phenomenology and the Possibility of an Axiological Rationality Charles S. Brown An Understanding Heart: Reason, Value, and Transcendental Phenomenology Erazim Kohák The Possibility of a Constitutive Phenomenology of the Environment Lester Embree Prolegomena to Any Future Phenomenological Ecology John Llewelyn Heidegger’s Phenomenology and Contemporary Environmentalism Michael E. Zimmerman Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Merleau-Ponty: Some of their Contributions and Limitations for Environmentalism Monika Langer Back to Earth with Reflection and Ecology Don E. Marietta, Jr.

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Contents

II. New Directions in Eco-Phenomenology 8. The Primacy of Desire and Its Ecological Consequences Ted Toadvine 9. Phenomenology on (the) Rocks Irene J. Klaver 10. Natural Disasters Christian Diehm 11. Taking a Glance at the Environment: Preliminary Thoughts on a Promising Topic Edward S. Casey

12.

What is Eco-Phenomenology? David Wood

Notes on Contributors Eco-Phenomenology Bibliography Index

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Acknowledgments

n the fall of 1999, we invited Wes Jackson and Ed Casey to speak at I Emporia State University as part of the First Annual Flint Hills Regional Environmental Colloquium. Our interaction with Wes and Ed at this con- ference spurred the thinking that led to this volume, and we would like to thank them for this inspiration. We are also grateful to Jane Bunker of the State University of New York Press for her immediate enthusiasm for our proposal and continued support throughout its development, and to the anonymous reviewers of the volume, whose suggestions resulted in numerous improvements. The Social Sciences Department at Emporia State University, under the leadership of Chair Phil Kelly, provided invaluable support for this work on many levels. We thank Nathan Hall and Jacque Fehr for their proofreading assistance. We would also like to thank our partners, Dianne Brown and Elizabeth Locey, for their support and encouragement. And, of course, we are indebted to our contributors, whose work here has confirmed our confidence in eco-phenomenology as a new direction for philosophy.

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Eco-Phenomenology

An Introduction

CHARLES S. BROWN AND TED TOADVINE

n one of the oldest stories in the history of philosophy, a witty Thracian I maid was said to have mocked Thales as he fell into a hole while watch- ing the sky. Later we learn that Thales, through his sky watching, foresaw a bountiful olive harvest, rented the presses while the prices were cheap, and sold access to the presses for a handsome profit. According to Aristo- tle, who recounts this tale, Thales intended to demonstrate that philoso- phers can use their wisdom for practical affairs when they wish. But this demonstration of the practical application of philosophy, as impressive as it is, has not greatly enhanced the reputations of philosophers as practical problem solvers. Today, faced with serious environmental concerns, both local and global, as well as with the growing realization that our current mode of life as humans on this planet is not sustainable, we look to sci- ence and technology for solutions. Biologists, earth scientists, and meteo- rologists offer us increasingly technical solutions to our problems. But is there, perhaps, a role for philosophy to play in responding to our current problems? Although a few voices can be heard calling for philosophical exami- nation of our predicament, they are a small minority. For the most part, we are living through a massive cultural propaganda exercise dedicated to the task of convincing ourselves that the dominant cultural forces have identified the problem and are working steadily toward appropriate solu- tions. While we may not yet be walking the green walk, we are well on our way to mastering the green talk. Apart from a few hardened reac- tionary voices, the entire American mainstream from Disney to the White

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